Nordwest Handel, one of two big purchasing cooperatives for steel, hardware and household technology in Germany, lifted steel segment revenue in the first quarter by 8% on-year to €393 million ($447m).
The organisation attributes the strong increase to higher prices in comparison with Q1 2024, but also to a higher tonnage sold, which it does not specify. Nordwest handles roughly 1 million tonnes/year of steel.
Despite weak construction activity, it lifted import volumes and forged new partnerships with suppliers, Kallanish understands. Nordwest is a partner in the pan-European purchasing cooperative Astedis. It however maintains that 2025 will remain a difficult year for steel distribution, on account of the critical construction sector weakness.
The Q1 increase was foreshadowed by sales growth of 4.4% in the second half of 2024. However, full-year 2024 remained below the preceding year by a considerable 11%, with sales of €1.509 billion, due to a drop in demand and prices, Nordwest says.
Christian Koehl Germany
